The Lake House

A Novel

"From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Secret Keeper and The Distant Hours, an intricately plotted, spellbinding new novel of heartstopping suspense and uncovered secrets. Living on her family's idyllic lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, inquisitive, innocent, and precociously talented sixteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure. One midsummer's eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest child, eleven-month-old Theo, has vanished without a trace. What follows is a tragedy that tears the family apart in ways they never imagined. Decades later, Alice is living in London, having enjoyed a long successful career as an author. Theo's case has never been solved, though Alice still harbors a suspicion as to the culprit. Miles away, Sadie Sparrow, a young detective in the London police force, is staying at her grandfather's house in Cornwall. While out walking one day, she stumbles upon the old estate now crumbling and covered with vines, clearly abandoned long ago. Her curiosity is sparked, setting off a series of events that will bring her and Alice together and reveal shocking truths about a past long gone yet more present than ever. A lush, atmospheric tale of intertwined destinies, this latest novel from a masterful storyteller is an enthralling, thoroughly satisfying read"--Provided by publisher.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Surprised when I received it (because I didn't remember placing it on hold) and surprised that I liked it. If you are a fan of alternating timelines, multiple perspectives and a splash of mystery, then this is the (long) book for you. My only criticism is the ending was a little too contrived for me, but the author had to tie up the plethora of loose ends in some way. It didn't dampen my enjoyment of the book, but it did cause an eye-roll or two.

Now THIS is a BOOK! Morton is a masterful storyteller, crafting characters and events that come together like pieces of a puzzle. I lost sleep staying up too late reading this one! I don't think the ending was rushed...I just wanted to keep reading! I would have liked to watch the new relationships develop, but I thought it all came together beautifully.

I did enjoy this book but like others have mentioned the ending was disappointing - it was rushed, too neatly tied up and contrived. Also could have been 100 pages shorter but having said that I didn't skip forward.

Wonderful storytelling and atmospheric novel that takes place alternately in the 1930's and 2003 on a magical estate in the Cornish countryside and in London. Eleanor Edevane and police officer Sadie Sparrow's lives intermingle through a 70-year old mystery.

A very intriguing novel! I enjoyed the parallel plot lines between the pre-World War I plot and the later mystery of the post World War II plot. Initially, in my reading, I found it confusing with the introduction of the characters of the two time lines. The flipping back and forth between the characters of the two time lines was a little rocky for me, until I settled into the book. Having said that, as I became more comfortable, I found myself trying to guess the answers to many questions in this mystery. There were some surprises, I did not predict!

The novel opens in 1933 with the entire Edevane clan preparing for the annual Midsummer party at their idyllic home, Loeanneth. Sixteen-year-old Alice Edevane is caught up in the magic of her first finished novel and her first crush. Before the night is over, several momentous events occur, including the tragic disappearance of her baby brother, Theo. Decades later, Alice, now a famous crime novelist, is still haunted by the real-life mystery of Theo’s vanishing. What really happened the night of her family’s summer party? Does Alice know more about that night than she pretends? Sadie Sparrow, a London detective on leave because of a botched case, discovers the Edevanes’ abandoned house while staying with her grandfather in Cornwall. She becomes engrossed in the 70-year old case and uses her formidable detective skills to investigate. Will she be the one to finally discover the long unknown fate of Theo Edevane? I love Kate Morton’s writing, and highly recommend two of her other books, The Secret Keeper and The Forgotten Garden.

Policewoman Sadie Sparrow has taken time off following an investigation whose results she doesn’t believe. Visiting her Cornwall grandfather she becomes intrigued by a cold case involving a boy who went missing on Midsummer’s Night in 1933. So goes Kate Morton’s latest adventure, which looks at the boy’s lake house family and their secrets.

Mothers and children are themes that resonate for a number of characters, building to an intriguing climax. I loved Sadie and her grandfather and the Edevanes, especially daughter Alice who grows up to be a mystery writer. Wonderful summer whodunit!